Trace-holder.



No. 858,922. Y P'ATENTED JULY 2, I907. T. THOMPSON.

- TRACE HOLDER.

nruouron 'rnnn us. so, 1906.

ATTORNEYS THOMAS THOMPSON, OF NEW LONDON, WISCONSIN.

UNITED STATES TRACE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed January 20, 1906. Serial No. 296,976.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New London, in the county of Waupaca and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Trace-Holder, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to holders for the traces of harness, its principalobjects being to provide a simple, convenient and durable device forboth the retaining of trace upon the swingletree and for holding theloose end of said trace.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures. f; Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, andFig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

I have indicated at 10 the end of a swingletree, the outer extremity ofwhich is adapted to enter a slot 11 in a trace 12, said trace oftenhavingbeyond the point of engagement with the swingletree a free end 13of considerable length.

At some distance from the end of the swingletree, and extendingtransversely of its lower side, is a pivot member 14 of my improvedholder, which is preferably formed of spring wire. This is here shown asrotatably mounted by means of a hinge-plate 15 surrounding it and beingsecured to the swingletree. At one extremity of this pivotal portion theholder extends along the swingletree for a short distance at 16, then isbent substantially at right angles at 17 and is curved over the oppositeor upper side, terminating near the center at 18. From this point alongitudinal portion 19 reaches adjacent to the trace where it is bentto furnish a loop 20 passing over said trace. Through the swingletree isan opening 21 to receive an arm 22 depending from the loop. This arm hasat its lower extremity a latch portion or enlargement 23 adapted toengage a metallic bar or contact member 24 fixed to the underside of theswingletree and furnishing a surface more resistive of wear than thewood of which the swingletree is formed. The portion of the holder atthis side of the pivot member is so bent that when the arm 22 is withinthe opening 21 it will bear against the wall of said opening, thuspreventing rattling. The portion of the holder at the opposite side ofthe pivot from that which has just been described rises at 25 in adirection substantially at right angles to the longitudinal portion 19,and has at its upper end above the swingletree a retaining projection 26extending back in a direction generally parallel to the pivot member.

The latch 23 being sprung out of engagement with the contact member 24,the holder may be turned by virtue of its pivotal support, thuswithdrawing the arm from the swingletree opening. This allows theapplication of the trace to the swingletree, it slipping over it untilit reaches a point at the inner side of the open-60 ing. The holder maynow be swung down until it is latched, the trace being now securely heldagainst accidental displacement. The portions 25 and 26 furnish, withthe swingletree, an opening through which the loose end of the trace maybe passed, thus maintaining it in contact with the swingletree andpreventing its hanging over the thill and contacting with the wheel.When so placed, this portion of the trace does not interfere with thedisengagement of the holder from the swingletree opening since the arethrough which the projection 26 moves is so flat that it approachesparallelism with the upper edge of the trace. My improved holderentirely obviates the difliculties arising from the use of thecomparatively limp, leather tongue commonly employed, which is difficultto insert, and the spring which in this connection is liable to break.Moreover its mounting is such that no strains are brought upon itselements, the movement of release and engagement being directly towardand from the portion of the swingletree which it engages, and beingwholly provided for by its pivoting.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination with a swingletree, of a trace-holder pivoted uponone side of the swingletree and curved around and upon the oppositeside, into and out of engagement with which it may move.

2. The combination with a swingletree, of a traceholder extendingtransversely of the swingletree and being pivoted thereto and thencurved around and extending longitudinaily upon the opposite side ofsaid swingletree and co-op- Y crating therewith.

3. The combination with a swingletree, of a trace-holder extendingtransversely of the swingletree and being pivoted thereto and thencurved around and extending longitudinally upon the opposite side ofsaid swingletree and having at its outer extremity a looped portion.

4. The combination with a swingletree, of a trace-holder extendingtransversely of the swingletree and being pivoted thereto and having oneend extending longitudinally of the swingletree and its other endsubstantially at right angles thereto.

5. The combination with a swingletree having an opening in its end, of atrace holder having a transversely extending member pivoted to the underside of the swingletree, one end of the pivoted member being curved upover has with its terminal the opening in the swingletree, and its 10other end bent to extend transversely oi the swingleiree and terminatingin an inwardly extending projection.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence 01' two subscribing witness s.

THOMAS THOMPSON.

Witnesses S. 'l. RITCHIE, E. 'l. NHssnlmM.

